Cocaine fatality: an unexplained blood concentration in a fatal overdose.
A case is presented of a 26-year-old female who died as a result of cocaine intoxication. A blood cocaine concentration of 330 mg/l, about 1.5 times greater than the highest concentration previously reported, was found. Blood benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester concentrations were 50 and 18 mg/l, respectively. The unusually high blood concentrations of cocaine and the metabolites are suggestive of a massive administration, however, the history suggests a series of recreational uses. The manner of death was undetermined.
Peretti
F J
FJ
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Isenschmid
D S
DS
Levine
B
B
Caplan
Y H
YH
Smialek
J E
JE
D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality*
D003042:Cocaine